Your 23 man squad for the WC

[ZacNaloen]

If Walcott is going to be a winger he needs to learn how to beat players and cross past the first defender. At the moment all he can do run onto a long ball and shoot. He'd may as well play as a striker.

As it is, he's not yet good enough for the world cup, but he has another two chances at least. For a fair few players this is their last chance.

[Thaumagurist*]

.

[Tails]

Underwelmed with SWP being included in the squad. I would have personally made the choice of taking either A.Johnson or Walcott - to choose neither and give the nod to SWP is all abit 'safe'...

Not surprised with the other selections though.

[Thaumagurist*]

.

[largetrousers]

From the BBC:
1600: Breaking news: The seven England players to miss out on a World Cup place are: Leighton Baines, Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone, Scott Parker, Adam Johnson, Theo Walcott, Darren Bent.

[Terminal Boardom]

ENGLAND'S 2010 WORLD CUP SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.
Defenders: Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Forwards: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney

[Wax Jacket]

Carrick, Carragher, SWP and Joe Cole can all consider themselves fortunate but otherwise you can't really argue, there's probably no glaring omission with the exception of Walcott

[TBM]

So now we know the 23 - who would be your starting XI v USA (providing Barry is fit)

Mine would be

Green
Johnson - Terry - Ferdinand - Cole
Barry
Lennon - Lampard - Gerrard - Cole
Rooney

[Tails]

SWP can beat defenders, which is a bit more than what WaLOLcott can do!

SWP couldn't beat an egg....

In all seriousness, both can beat players, but both have an inability to truely be productive thereafter.

[Stranded]

Green
Johnson - Terry - Ferdinand - Cole

Lennon - Lampard - Barry - Cole

Rooney - Heskey

[leww_rfc]

James
Johnson-Terry-Ferdinand-Cole
Lennon-Lampard-Milner*-J.Cole
Rooney-Crouch

Milner*- / Gerrard.

[Focher]

James

Johnson
Terry
Fedinand
Cole

Lennon
Barry
Gerrard
Lampard
Cole

Rooney

[Terminal Boardom]

I think that we have missed a trick by not taking Adam Johnson. That aside, I can not argue about the squad. Wlacott has done very little this season to justify selection and, when you compare what he did against Japan on Sunday with how SWP played, it is a no brainer.

[Baines]

That's about as underwhelmed as I've been for the announcement of an England WC or EC squad.

[PieEater]

I think that we have missed a trick by not taking Adam Johnson. That aside, I can not argue about the squad. Wlacott has done very little this season to justify selection and, when you compare what he did against Japan on Sunday with how SWP played, it is a no brainer.

'geed. Although I wonder about Heskey going in place of Bent. He's the second highest English scorer in the prem and Heskey can't even get in the Villa team.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Still miffed that Carragher got picked over Dawson.

[Baines]

What are our prospects? We've got a decent chance. Any team who wins this World Cup will need a bit of luck - England will need a little bit more. But if decisions go our way, and we keep our main XI fit, then we will have a decent chance.

I love Shearer's logic. Any team that wins the World Cup will likely need a bit of luck. Therefore, if we get some luck, we could win. FFS.

[Ginger Ninjas]

So now we know the 23 - who would be your starting XI v USA (providing Barry is fit)

Mine would be

Green
Johnson - Terry - Ferdinand - Cole
Barry
Lennon - Lampard - Gerrard - Cole
Rooney

I'd agree with that - apart from giving James the nod for goalie.

My problem with the squad is that there's no unpredictable, exciting player to bring on - Walcott or Johnson could have provided this option. Crouch can disturb defences, but his reputation as a flat track bully is not entirely unfounded.

[TBM]

So now we know the 23 - who would be your starting XI v USA (providing Barry is fit)

Mine would be

Green
Johnson - Terry - Ferdinand - Cole
Barry
Lennon - Lampard - Gerrard - Cole
Rooney

I'd agree with that - apart from giving James the nod for goalie.

My problem with the squad is that there's no unpredictable, exciting player to bring on - Walcott or Johnson could have provided this option. Crouch can disturb defences, but his reputation as a flat track bully is not entirely unfounded.

I was thinking James but Saturday was his first game for England in a year - Green had a good game against Mexico so reckon he'll be given the number 1 shirt with James as back up and Hart as 3rd choice

[6ft Kerplunk]

Crouch can disturb defences, but his reputation as a flat track bully is not entirely unfounded.

Thats a bit harsh on Crouch. At international level everything is seeded for qualification and tournaments. So basically you don't play top class opposition until the quarter finals of any competition. I don't think any of our players have fantastic scoring records at that stage of competitions, particulary if like Crouch you get used as a sub.